New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-03
HOW ELEPHANTS ARE TRAINED.
YOUNG ADAM FoREPAUGMs METHODS.


| SOME FACTS THAT FEW PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THn
BIG BEAsrs-THEY ACT BY ROUTINE NOT IN
IELIIGENTLY
IL is rather trying on feminine perhaps, to
sit unmoved 10 the low, open boxes at the BarDunl-
Forepaugh show while the big elephants are being
put through their PAGES scarcely ten feet away Only
two-foot rail and halt dozen keepers with light
raw hide whips in their hands stand between and ono
sometimes WONDERS, as the huge beasts move ponder
ously about the circle, lie Iinst the dirt
wall OF the rngthcir sharp eyes wandering restlessly
the garden their trunks stretching across tho
dirt ridge blow up a contcmptuous cloud of tan
bark and dust toward the boxes-one sometimes
wonders what would happen if these big brute should
suddenly cut loose. Barnums elephants in tact, did
try it last spring. But that panic came from one OF
the smaller elephants cries OF distress and lasted
scarcely three minutes And few people took tho
trouble then TO beat retreat even from tue most
exposed places
This utter confidence both OF showmen and circus
goers in the docilty OF the big beasts marks one OF
the highest and Latest stages OF elephant training As
any one about the show tell you, no elephant IS
sent into The ring without at least years training.
Only the tamest animals those most used to crowds
and confusion are tIkel to with. The keepers
kept with them SANITY and the same rouad OF
tricks and movements that they are to 10 through in
the circus, is followed out, day by dag. from ono
years end to another. Habit and example take 30
strong ahod in the end, that trick elephant, tue
would think OF cutting loose IN the rE,d>t OF
his performances than OF stopping halfway with a
bag OF oats that he had stolen Trick elephants too,
as q rule. lazy and amiable They stand in fear
of the keepers whip hook and watch CENTRALLY IN
perfect submission Tor sign from him before making
the brst motion.
There is an idea abroad that elephants are moro
easily trained than other ANIMALS They have nigh
intelligence among quadrupeds, OF course. but all
trainers agree that they learn tricks only after long
and PAINFUL routine. There Is scarcely sha lie OF
difference either IN the matter OF quickness tetweeD
different elephants. Nineteen out OF twenty Will
master given trick in just about the same length Of
time. And so is the average power 20 learn
and hold tricks that pairs, and groups OF or
eight for tho more complicated pieces V acting, are
chosen to match only in size. without any
question in advance of quickness or duness.
The newest and most striking tricks shown this
year at the Madison Square GARDEN are the younger
Adam Forepaushs. The boxing bout vita John l..
sullivan aud the quadrie dance which he has in
vented tor the eight big elephants have been talked o
good deal in the last two weeks. Young Mr. Fore
pau.h has been training elephants from his boyhood
and has ori mated halt the tricks that elephants are
doing In all circuses. He Us peculiar control
over the big beasts apparently, having discarded the
steel prod from the first and using nothing but hight
whip OF rawhde.
/, is hard to tell much about ones method OF train
ng" he said the other day when Interrupted in his
mornings work at the pig Garden =" There are no
special short brilliant strokes about It, think
the secret OF tho whole thing is hard, patient work
Elephants. everybody knows, are intelligent enough,
but thcy den. take to show trick, somehow One OF
our trained elephants had the ingenuity steal bag
OF oats a day tor nearly whole sunRcr by pulling
out tent stake near his quarters when no one Was
looking lifting the dap OF canvas and grabbing bag
with his trunk from the pile that was kept just out
side Then he ate the oats threw the bag outside,
fastened the flap aud put in the stake again. Yet hs
was Of the dullest at learning tricks. And coad
never explain it, except on the theory that he was
playing oil.
elephants have to be taught everything by mere
routine. They never to know that they are
doing anything with end purpose They could
as well begin at the last movements and work back.
take "a green elephant in the tall and put him ~ with
those trained the year before AT first he does
nothing but walk about leaning TO keep step and 10
march with the rest. When he Is fairly broken IN !
try him OF the simpler things-to come at
command, 10 lie down, TO rise on his hind LEGS, t
stand on tub. From that on il is all an unbroken
routine. Every movement has TO he repeated daily
Ill the elephant gets the whole thing IN bis memory.
The same things must always be done In the same
order and nearly possible In the same space ot
time. IL would throw out every elephant here If !
changed the tricks i'll the least, even the order OF
them in the slightest.
A keeper must er allow an elephant any free
dom OF action. To keep them goi- through the same
motion. almost mechanically. with no chance 10 vary
them Is tue best means OF making them perfectly
harmless and docile. They 20 on through any
amount OF confusion and they know that they stop
the keeper will be hand 10 punish them The tricks
become 80 mechanical, finally, that almost anybody
who knows them himself can put the elephant
Though them. 1t is the way with the
minutest details which the clown elephants master.
They get them by memory only. and the slightest
deviation the part OF the assistant would spoil
everything
As the elephants get on with the simpler work, I
try them in tricks The quadre that the eight
big elephants dance cost me six solid months OF tram
ing Tbs work was simply this to make each walk
his intricate course to the right time. The
elephants think, have an idea OF what they are
doing. The movements are simply beaten into then
heads. They don't seem 10 notice the music IN the
waltz. They were trained wshout music OF course,
and wouldn't miss il. The boxing act ~ the most
elaborate have vet attempted. John l.. Sullivan
not remarkably intelligent elephant and had
o long, hard pull with HIM. lie had TO be made
accustomed first TO wearing glove on his trunk AMI
swinging II TO and fro Then had 10 yet hun 10
understand what the blows meant aud when 10 laI
down. | strike many times ana then speak to him
aud his tumble his side. lie had 10
he pulled and pushed about good deal TO get ms
part. especially where he follows me around aud
knocks out OF the ring. nave another sill more
elaborate trick in my bead Tor neXt year and shall
work Oh it next winter In Philadelphia, our resting
quarters. On tho road we do Largo lumber VI
marches and military drills.
The elephants are more popular in tLo country
than in the city and make much bigger figure IN he
ring and IN the street parade. have thrty-ei.ht
trained beasts ON hand but could BRING Only eighteen
to New-York. The brightest elephant have Is the
little clown, Pickannnr who Is now about ten years
old. lie il really clever and quick quite an eHoep
ON in the herd The elephants have no leader
apparently. Any one | pick out will do The trained
elephants al Indian. l never saw tran,d
African one. Most OF them. too. ale males. All tho
clio Nh elephants are males. Still tEero is ltte II any,
difference IN eley,rness ~ the long run between the
males and the females. Elephants die rapidly hers
and have to DreaK new ones IN every winter. IL Is
popular mistake about their ski being thick not
TO oel a prong much. They smart under the
rawhlde. They catch cold eashy and 20 OH chiefly
from consumption
ENTHUSIASTIC.
From The lOuts Companion.